a mahal in Mumbai
I was challenged by arun to do my bit as a blogger so I hunted through my phone photos and found this one – taken on Saturday as the light turned a particularly gorgeous autumnal gold – in Central Mumai Mumbai, somewhere near Lamington Road and Grant Road. Unfortunately I don’t recall the name of this building and my search won’t yield a result. I’ve passed it numerous time and looked at the various stores, hotels, libraries, and denizens it houses in wonder – marveling at how they, like so many Mumbaikars, live cheek-to-jowl with each other, sharing a bathroom with dozens, able to hear every nuance of their neighbors’ lives through the thin walls of their single room … And yet, this is the only existence they can afford. Do they see beauty in their lives? Or is that a luxury afforded only to people like me, zooming by in AC cars with an expensive camera-phone?
Khair, if you do know the name of this building, please share. Otherwise, I’ll update this post after the next time I go by it.
Great post! Do check out the list of things you could do that go a long way in helping lift people from poverty: http://blogactionday.org
Why so … serious???
@Arun, thanks and thanks for the link
@T.O. don’t worry, it’s a passing phase. I realized later I should have emailed you about Blog Action Day, too, but had shut down my laptop by then. Anyway, you’re more clued into the blogosphere than I am, I guess 🙂 #bad08
Hey wait.. when was the Colosseum constructed in mumbai? If its not that.. I dunno what it is.
No no… wonder what led to that conclusion. I am a recluse… I am clued on to nothing that involves lotsa people 🙂
Nice composition.. The building seems to be abandoned, IMHO..
@Reeteshinator, I’m still waiting to go by it again or someone else who knows what it’s called to enlighten us all. It’s something Mahal.
@Manasa, yes, it does seem to be empty. But it’s really teeming with activity on the ground level. This was taken on a weekend evening. I’ll try to get more pics when I go by next!
@T.O. 🙂 sure … right 😀
There are words which remind me of Delhi… “Khair” is one of them 🙂
Iz okie really. But for a guy who notices a single spelling mistake in a 600 page book it’s not. Especially since your last page concentrates on spelling wonders. in the sentence “Central Mumai, somewhere near Lamington Road” Mumbai ka spelling gaya teda. For a blog in perpetuity, who am i to protest on a unforced error on the fringes?
@Gopal Sea Ay yi yi. Oops. fixed! thanks!
Here’s a write-up on Mumbai Chawls that describes origin of these structures which housed nearly 60% of Mumbai population in the 50s and 60s.